Shelby County Commission adds spending to budget

In budget discussions Wednesday, Shelby County commissioners voted to increase spending by $872,000, including an additional $450,000 to house the homeless.

The changes came over the objections of county Mayor Mark Luttrell's administration, which had given commissioners a balanced budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 and wanted to keep it that way.

The administration has said its $1.2 billion spending plan includes no property tax increase, no layoffs and a 1 percent pay raise for employees.

More budget amendments are likely at Monday's full commission meeting, said county chief financial officer Mike Swift. "Where it will end up, I don't know," he said.

Commissioners offered no cuts to balance the additional spending. Swift said that for now, officials would take additional spending out of the "fund balance" -- the amount left over after the government covers expenses.

The homeless funding would go for two projects. A one-time payment of $200,000 would create additional housing units for the poor. And $250,000 in recurring annual funding would help the 100 most vulnerable homeless people in Memphis.

"We're talking about people who will die within the next two years unless they are receiving housing and services," said Brad Watkins with Homeless Organizing for Power and Equality, a new group affiliated with the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center.

Workers plan to identify people who each have three problems: They are physically ill, mentally ill and are substance abusers, said Katie Kitchin, executive director of the Community Alliance for the Homeless. Kitchin said the money from the county government would pay for services such as taking them to doctors' appointments. Money from other sources will pay for their housing units, which would be scattered throughout the community.

Besides the additional spending for the homeless, the other notable increases were:

$150,000 to support efforts by former basketball star Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway to build a $20.5 million multipurpose center for indoor youth sports such as volleyball and wrestling next to the existing First Tennessee Fields near Shelby Farms. The county would make the payment only if the city government contributed an equal amount.

$101,000 for a new Veterans Court that would help former warriors who land in the criminal justice system. It would be similar to the existing Drug Court, which aims to steer low-level offenders toward treatment rather than prison.

$100,000 for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, which pairs young people with adult mentors.

$46,000 for MAP South Inc., an organization that distributes food to impoverished infants, children, women and senior citizens. The original budget presented by Luttrell's administration had eliminated funding to the organization.

$25,000 for the Hattiloo Theatre, an African-American performance arts organization.